Divestment is means for peaceful outcome
Divestment, as proposed in the July 8 editorial, “UC must
respect human rights, divest,” is about liberty. It is
not about destroying Israel, which we should have nothing to do
with, but ending Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.
The Palestinian people deserve liberty and a state as much as
the Israelis do. The questions are, how do they get these
things, and who has the power to give them? It is clear America is
the only country with the power to negotiate with the
Israelis. We protect Israel from everyone else, and Israel
trusts us because of this. Essentially, the future of the
Palestinian people lies in the hands of Americans. Now how do
we get them a state?
Divestment is the only way to do this. America has asked Israel
to end its 35-year occupation before to no avail. We need to
send a concrete (read: monetary) message to Israel that unless it
does what is right, we will no longer support and protect it.
Presented with such a message, Israel will have no choice but to
end its occupation.
Israel cannot afford for us to stop sending money and providing
diplomatic protection. Therefore, divestment is the best way
to solve the problem. If anyone can think of a more assured
way of getting Israel to end the occupation, I’m all ears.
But I haven’t heard one yet. And this conflict needs to
come to an end so we can all get on with our lives ““ with
liberty and justice for all.
Sarah Kaiksow
Israelis avoiding peace
Way to go! Your July 8 editorial, “UC must respect human
rights, divest,” was ahead of the curve.
Since Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by
one of his own people in November 1995, the anti-peace forces in
Israel have taken control. Every time peace threatens to break out,
they find a way to undermine it. The world community ““ and
especially the United States ““ will have to drag Israel
kicking and screaming through the conclusion of the Oslo process:
complete withdrawal from the occupied territories. The divestment
movement is a strong step in that direction.
Keep up the good work, and don’t let anyone intimidate
you.
Kevin J. Barrett University of Wisconsin-Madison African
languages and literature